Wednesday 20 March 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday 36 - Mud Islands

I have mentioned in a couple of my last post that I took a trip around Mud Islands on the Saturday of a recent long weekend.

I tell you more about the trip on my wordy blog - the post will be called Perimeter Walk - but for now I'll just post some of the birds I saw.

At this time of year the Islands were not over populated with birds - but we did find a rather splendid mixed flock of waders at one point.  We normally don't get to see the waders in their breeding  finery - they spend the summer with us, but head back north in our winter to breed.  So most of the time while they are here they are in non-breeding plumage.  (Of course its crazy to call it "winter" plumage as its our summer!)

Mixed Flock - Red Knot (centre), Great Knot, Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper (yellow / green legs)

Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone on LHS
Sharp Tailed Sandpiper in front of Red Knot
There were also some Godwit coming into breeding plumage - not that you can tell in this picture!  I think the flash on the leg of the RHS bird is a band / ring.

Bar Tailed Godwit


Black-Winged and Banded Stilt.
You can see that I have cropped these two images for effect.  The second of these pictures is not the best in the world - but I have included it because it shows both Banded and Black Winged Stilt.  The banded have an all white head and the adults have a chestnut breast band.  The Black Winged have a black strip on the back of their head.  There have been very few records of either species on the island and the Black Winged is a very unusual record.


There was a small flock (maybe 5) of Ruddy Turnstone at the back of the mixed wader flock - but they always stayed rather too far away.

Australian Pelican
There were always pelicans to be seen - the island has a breeding colony at the right time of year.  And as we were leaving a Welcome Swallow perched up to say see you later!


So, all in all a good day.  And I still have a few pictures up my sleeve!

If you have not already done so, you may find a visit to my other blog to be a worthwhile way to pass a few minutes - people have said it's a good read.

But whatever you do dont forget to click the link below to join inWBW!



55 comments:

  1. the red knot sure is pretty! i love the stilts.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A splendid series. Great photos in my opinion. You sure know your bird stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How wonderful is that Australian pelican - the last Pelican I saw was in Hyde Park in London a fascinating bird - wader pics are good - Jane UK

    ReplyDelete
  4. The little swallow is perfect! Many great captures of the waders, particularly the red knot, the pelican, and black-winged stilts. You had an awesome day for birding, it appears! Looking forward to more.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the last photo of the swallow... I have had a purple martin house for years, but have yet to have a martin move in. - The starlings seem to approve of the house though :(

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow Stewart, that mixed flock is huge! Covering the shore. Love the pelican in flight. (I was early for WBW this week as I am only doing one or two posts weekly, while I recover from my accident).

    ReplyDelete
  7. So many birds you saw at the same time, interesting! But the pelican, wow, that one I really would like to see!
    Greetings Pia

    ReplyDelete
  8. A productive day out.
    Good to see so many waders. A grand place.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Those stilts were a nice find! The Red Knots are now following the egg-laying cycle of the Horseshoe Crabs and they migrate up our eastern coast. On Florida's Gulf Coast I saw one faded knot last week wearing a flag and bands that had been placed back in 2005.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lovely birds, most of which we don't see in my part of Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great images, Stewart, but I particularly like the Red Knot!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great photos, interesting to study the details!

    ReplyDelete
  13. You won't believe what I thought the first photo was. I thought I was seeing oysters! not birds! Very neat. It reminds me of "March of the Penguins" which we just saw this weekend on dvd when they huddled together to capture each other's warmth. Not sure what your birds are doing there though.

    You travel to some neat spots.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am running out the door and just had enough time to post ... will be back later to comment on your pictures and other posts ... Have a great day!

    Andrea @ From The Sol

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a brilliant selection of waders. From Findlay

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a brilliant selection of waders. From Findlay

    ReplyDelete
  17. Very interesting birds for sure! I love pelicans and have never seen one like that!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love those black stilts and the pelican. All good shots Stewart, have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great to see the migratory waders from down your way and a very interesting mix of species in the flock.

    ReplyDelete
  20. The Godwits always remind me of the wooden carved birds that nautical shops sell - I'd fill our house with them. Thought of you the other day, there was a Yorkshire tweet on twitter talking about the new perp (pope)!

    ReplyDelete
  21. A lovely selection of photos, enjoyed these very much. Thank you Stewart and thank you for stopping by. I have linked up.

    ReplyDelete
  22. what fun, sounds like a great day. Love the mixed flocks.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'd say that was a pretty good birding day indeed Stewart!
    Always wonderful images of your finds!
    We should take a tip from nature and all learn how to get along. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Excellent collection of photos of the birds....the images of the red knot amongst all the rest is amazing...such wonderful natural camouflage.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Lovely, as always! The Pelican might be my favorite today.. but it's a tough call. They're all great! Thanks for sharing your part of the world with us, and for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Awesome birds and photos, Stewart! The Redknot and Turnstones really stand out in the mixed flock! Sounds like a great birding outing! I love the Pelican too but the Redknot is one of my favorites. Thanks for hosting, happy birding!

    ReplyDelete
  27. My first here, hoping to learn the names of the birds. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Truly marvelous captures Stewart ... I love all of their muted tones :) My kind of colors :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Very intresting post Stewart!I realy enjoyed seeing so much different birds!I like most the Australian pelican!!Great captures my friend!!Hope you have a wonderful week!
    Dimi..

    ReplyDelete
  30. Awesome shots of the pelican in flight, red knot and black winged and banded stilts. I'd say you had a fantastic day Stewart.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Fantastic shots, Stewart! Some of them look like paintings (like the first three). Some wall material here for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Love the pelican and the red knot! All of them are great!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Interesting shots of the waders...they really blend in with the terrain!!! And I love the Pelican in flight!!!
    Well done!!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Brilliant photos, my favourite is the Stilt, superb.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi Stewart and thanks for your comment which made me laugh. I think I've created a McDonalds Seed Bar to fatten the finches. Good to see the mix of waders in your pictures, especially Sharp-tailed, something of a major rarity here of course. I love that name "Welcome Swallow", a week or so and we'll welcome them here if the weather warms up.

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a lot of beautiful birds. I sure do like that Pelican in flight!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Great shots from that great site!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi Stewart....I loved this WBW post, especially the photo's of the huddled pile of waders, at a distance I think they would look like rocks : )!!
    The Australian Pelican, is a fabulous
    shot!
    I will be glad to see the Swallows return here in spring...well it is spring ,but we had 12 inches of snow yesterday :(!!
    Grace

    ReplyDelete
  39. What a great collection of birds in one day. I love watching waders when I go to the beach.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Fantastic photos, just joined your site. I love bird watching

    ReplyDelete
  41. Lots of shore birds, and seeing the pelican is a treat. Thanks,

    ReplyDelete
  42. Cool shots! The pelican in flight is awesome. But since I just love swallows, I have to say I am drawn to that photo the most.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Shorebirds are so cool aren't they? I love those Red Knot shots you got Stewart.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Good to see the waders in colour for a change.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Love that little swallow perched on the twig--he (or she) looks so dainty.

    ReplyDelete
  46. You found some incredible birds to photograph! The first shots make the birds look like stones on the shore. Those sandpipers all lined up..wonderful! They are all delightful!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Always interesting to see your captures. Like Jane, I am fascinated that you get to see pelicans. We saw one flock here, about four years ago. And like TexWis, I find those Red Knots very pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hi Stewart - What a great group of waders. You really know your birds! I had to put out bird seeders just to get some pixs of some mourning doves and sparrows and finches. Not too much variety around here. BUT I saw three buzzards circling in a ring over the vacant lot across the street from my house -wish I had had my camera!

    ReplyDelete
  49. wow, so many birds. It is amazing! I envy you.

    ReplyDelete
  50. So many birds! So many pretty patterns of detail on them.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Well, I am finally back to take a look at your water birds. My goodness, I don't think there is one in the bunch that I have even heard of. Are these all strictly native to Mud Island? Or do you get them on the mainland too? All have beautiful coloring and the Black Winged and Banded Stilts are striking. I keep telling myself, I want to go to Australia and see what you see ... how blessed you are.

    ReplyDelete
  52. My week has escaped me once again, and yet I shall try to rectify my missing out on posts. The waders are terrific and I LOVE the Swallow at the ending. I saw 2 Tree Swallows just yesterday...very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Another stunning post Stewart, really wish for some sunshine and blue sky here

    ReplyDelete